Developing STEM Curriculum Units to Engage 4th-8th Grade Navajo Students as Part of In-Class Outreach
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| Title: | Developing STEM Curriculum Units to Engage 4th-8th Grade Navajo Students as Part of In-Class Outreach |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Hunter, D. A., Castagno, A. E., Gonzales, T., Tallsalt, V., Little, A., Brown, T., Pipe, M., Greyeyes, J., Marsh, E., Smith, J., Paulson, S., Yazzie, J., Black, P., Saganey, E., Cole, C. |
| Source: | Journal of STEM Outreach. Feb 2023 6(1). |
| Availability: | Journal of STEM Outreach. PMB 0367, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203. e-mail: jstemoutreach@vanderbilt.edu; Web site: https://www.jstemoutreach.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 10 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| Contract Number: | AST1738032 1831063 2025202 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Descriptive |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Grade 4 Intermediate Grades Grade 5 Middle Schools Grade 6 Grade 7 Junior High Schools Secondary Education Grade 8 |
| Descriptors: | Elementary School Teachers, Elementary School Students, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Outreach Programs, Navajo (Nation), Indigenous Populations, STEM Education, Curriculum Development, Student Interests, Program Evaluation, Program Effectiveness, Active Learning, Student Projects |
| ISSN: | 2576-6767 |
| Abstract: | The Native American Astronomy Outreach Program (NAAOP) at Lowell Observatory is an in-class STEM enrichment program that pairs astronomers with 4th-8th grade teachers at Native-serving schools in northern Arizona. The astronomer works with the teacher to present hands-on astronomy activities to their class with the goal of getting students excited about STEM and STEM careers. Over three school years (2018-2021), a special collaboration with teachers at the Navajo Nation's Kayenta Unified School District was used to develop and implement curriculum units for each grade level with potential for a high impact on students. The curriculum used Project Based Learning to better enable students to see themselves as scientists, and it included cultural and local connections related to the science content to encourage students to see science as relevant to themselves. Although impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, student surveys suggest that these curriculum units along with the other components of the program had a positive impact on students' interest in STEM. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1380395 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The Native American Astronomy Outreach Program (NAAOP) at Lowell Observatory is an in-class STEM enrichment program that pairs astronomers with 4th-8th grade teachers at Native-serving schools in northern Arizona. The astronomer works with the teacher to present hands-on astronomy activities to their class with the goal of getting students excited about STEM and STEM careers. Over three school years (2018-2021), a special collaboration with teachers at the Navajo Nation's Kayenta Unified School District was used to develop and implement curriculum units for each grade level with potential for a high impact on students. The curriculum used Project Based Learning to better enable students to see themselves as scientists, and it included cultural and local connections related to the science content to encourage students to see science as relevant to themselves. Although impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, student surveys suggest that these curriculum units along with the other components of the program had a positive impact on students' interest in STEM. |
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| ISSN: | 2576-6767 |
